We were lucky to catch up with Charlie Park recently and have shared our conversation below.

Charlie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

This question arose frequently while I was trying to break into the industry. I actually remember applying for a few office jobs. And when I was too depressed to think about anything positive, I often regretted my decision to become a professional artist. I felt this a lot, especially right after I graduated. And this thought repeated for eight years until I actually got the gig I wanted.

Even though I could’ve put more effort into getting a regular office job- but still, those jobs are also a dream position for someone else, which means that because certain jobs look easier than others doesn’t necessarily mean that you will earn them.

Everything takes time. That’s why at a certain point in my aspiring artist years, I decided to put it all in. I invested so much on taking storyboarding online courses. I trusted that hard work and resilience would never betray me.

After I actually got the job I wanted, nowadays, even though I had to walk through very difficult decisions in my life, I wouldn’t regret it. The outcome took time to come out, but it came out. And I can finally say I’m happy.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m currently working as a storyboard artist in an anime studio, and I’m a comic creator with my original Webtoon series, ‘Stella.’ I’m also a part-time staff member at the movie theater on weekends. Yes, being an immigrant here means that you have to work extra hard. But I’m also a little workaholic with a lot of enthusiasm for stories, haha.

I was already an art kid as long as I could remember; I got into drawing when I first watched The Lion King and Sailor Moon series at the age of five. Ever since then, I have always walked around with a sketchbook and manga (which also explains why I always carry around a huge bag with everything in it, haha. I like to carry my favorite stuff anywhere I go.) This passion carried me through a few difficult situations in my life: when I moved to America, when I lost my mom, when I lost my track of career, and when I was struggling to break into the industry.

I don’t think my work is particularly special. But I think the specialty comes from your authentic story. Your work will reflect how you lived this world and how much effort you put in. That’s where I find pride; I’m proud of my journey ever since I landed in America, and how much I worked to survive in this country. I tried to cope with my mom’s death through drawing, and now it’s my strongest tool and greatest pride.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to make my own short film; It’s the story about my mom and me. I didn’t graduate from animation school, so I don’t quite know how to make an entire film by myself. It would definitely be a challenge, but a fun challenge. Since I have now met so many great friends in my career, I know so many people are waiting and willing to help this film come alive.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think my twenties were all about resilience because my mom passed away during that time. I also had to live alone in America, working as a salesperson at the cosmetic store for two years while taking art classes at night to build a portfolio to be a professional artist. And then COVID hit. I had to deal with a lot of loneliness. I think the most critical part of living in this situation is that even when you desperately need a family, you have to find a home within yourself. A lot of times you grow with yourself. It’s a very lonely process.

But when you learn to grow resilience, it helps you a lot of times. When COVID hit, I had to go back to Korea. There were a lot of personal dramas going on at the time, but more than anything, I felt like my entire life was taken away. I was running so hard to finish the portfolio and get a job, but because of the situation, I felt like there was no way out. But in my dictionary, there’s always room to fit your chance to grow. I decided to use this time for myself. First of all, I had a family present and I had a safe home; these gave me opportunities to actually concentrate on my studies. I remember every day I sat down at the desk and studied anatomy, researched the early career opportunities in animation, and constantly made new connections within the industry. Again, another chance I could find within this disaster was that everyone was in the same boat, and we all understood each other’s situation. Ironically, I was able to unite with animation people more so than ever during this period. That’s why I gained some confidence to move directly to LA from Korea, leaving my chapter in NYC behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charlieartspace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieartspace/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yealinpark/

Image Credits

Portraits: Orange Film @orange.film_
Artworks: Charlie Park @charlieartspace